Multiple connectable power outlet box with conduit separating baffles

ABSTRACT

An electric power outlet box is used to connect either an underground or overhead supply line led into the box, and by either underground or overhead outlet conduits from the box it services the establishment of an adjacent power consumer such as a unit in a mobile home park. Top and bottom walls of the upstanding, rectangular box are each formed with a pair of actual or potential apertures, members of each pair within the box being separated by a generally vertical channel-forming baffle, each baffle spaced laterally from the adjacent side-wall of the box and inwardly terminating at a central area adjacent terminals provided for connection of the inlet and outlet lines. A circuit breaker and jaws for mounting an electric meter are part of the circuit thus formed. Incoming and outgoing conduits placed along opposite sides of a baffle are thus physically isolated in event of sparking or flame-out in the box, and thus need not be carried through opposite walls to meet safety requirements. Such box may be mounted on the side of a hollow post, through which post an underground supply conduit can be brought into the box through a knock-out aperture in the rear face in place of use of one of the other four apertures. As many of the latter as are not used to carry conduits at a particular installation, remain sealed.

United States Patent [1 1 Plummer MULTIPLE CONNECTABLE POWER OUTLET BOXWITH CONDUIT SEPARATING BAFFLES [75] Inventor: Merle A. Plummer, NorthHollywood, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Myers Electric Products, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed: Apr. 10, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 231,256

[52] US. Cl 317/107, 317/111, 324/156, 174/68 C, [51] Int. Cl 1102b [58]Field of Search 317/104, 105, 107, 317/111, 112118. 122; 174/68 C,174/38 [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,916,219 7/1933Hush 317/105 3,087,097 4/1963 Janson 317/104 2,182,603 12/1939 Walker317/105 1,979,804 11/1934 Lutz 174/68 C Primary Examiner-J. V. TruheAssistant Examiner-Gerald P. Tolin Attorney-Howard L. Johnson [4 1 Aug.14, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT An electric power outlet box is used to connecteither an underground or overhead supply line led into the box, and byeither underground or overhead outlet conduits from the box it servicesthe establishment of an adjacent power consumer such as a unit in amobile home park. Top and bottom walls of the upstanding, rectangularbox are each formed with a pair of actual or potential apertures,members of each pair within the box being separated by a generallyvertical channelforming baffle, each baffle spaced laterally from the adjacent side-wall of the box and inwardly terminating at a central areaadjacent terminals provided for connection of the inlet and outletlines. A circuit breaker and jaws for mounting an electric meter arepart of the circuit thus formed. Incoming and outgoing conduits placedalong opposite sides of a baffle are thus physically isolated in eventof sparking or flame-out in the box, and thus need not be carriedthrough opposite walls to meetsafety requirements. Such box may bemounted on the side of a hollow post, through which post an undergroundsupply conduit can be brought into the box through a knock-out aperturein the rear face in place of use of one of the other four apertures. Asmany of the latter as are not used to carry conduits at a particularinstallation, remain sealed.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MULTIPLE CONNECTABLE POWER OUTLET BOXWITHCONDUITSEPARATING BAFFLES This invention relates to a power outlet boxwhich is used to receive an electric supply conduit and to connect it to(usually) a plurality of service lines leading to an individual unitwhich it serves, such as a store, resideuce, workshop, mobile home, etc.Such box carries at least one circuit breaker and also a sealed-onmeter. For such assemblies, safety regulations in most localitiesrequire that the incoming and outgoing conduits be physically isolatedfrom each other within the box so that a possible spark or fire in oneline does not automatically involve or spread to others. This could beaccomplished initially by having respective lines leave and enter atopposite sides or ends of the box. However it is often more convenientor otherwise desirable to have both incoming and outgoing lines gothrough the same wall, as when an entering underground line is connectedin the box to service conduits which are in turn led out underground, oran overhead entrance line isconnected to service lines which are takenout again overhead. Since local requirements vary from place to place aswell as from time to time, a box which is adapted only to one manner ofconnection, may be found to be unsuitable (without modification) atanother location.

Accordingly, as noted in the foregoing abstract, there is here providedsuch an electric power outlet box which is adapted to receive andconnect multiple supply and outlet conduits whether either or both arecarried underground or overhead. This result is effected primarily by astructural arrangement providing a pair of side-wall apertures in eachof an opposite pair of walls (such as top and bottom) of a typicallyrectangular housing or upright box, each pair of apertures beinginternally separated by a longitudinal baffle originating at theaperture wall and extending partway to the opposite wall, thus formingan open face channel along each of its sides. This provides fourseparate passages leading to or from a central connection area, each ofwhich passages can thus carry a conduit which traverses the respectiveaperture as may be required for a particular job. Such apertures as arenot used, remain closed.

Thus it is an object to provide a power outlet box or service centerhaving a pattern of plural aperture means and aligned internal channelswhich can be selectively used in any combination and without furtheradaptation so as to accommodate the installation of electric supply lineand outlet conduits, whether either or both incoming and outgoing linesare carried to and from the box underground or overhead.

The invention is illustrated by the embodiment shown in the accompanyingdrawings wherein FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, with portionsbroken away and the upper aperture hubs shown partly in axial section,of an electric power outlet box embodying the pattern of aperture andinternal channel construction.

FIG. '2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the staggeredline 22 of FIG. ll.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the upper portion of thebox along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 with the unit rotated 180 on a verticalaxis.

As here illustrated, there is provided a generally rectangular housingor box 10, in use generally placed vertically upright, and formed withback surface 12 and forward-projecting sides l3, 14, bottom 15 and top16 walls, the top having overlying or outer turned-down edges 17 and thebottom being upwardly recessed by means of vertical margin strips 18. Aforward wall 20 forms the external face for the upper portion of the boxfront, being centrally apertured at 21, with an arcuately outturned,annular engaging groove 22 for reception of a circular band or sealingstrip 24 which serves to attach an electric meter M after the conduitshave been connected.

Below the upper face 20 and in the same plane, is an upswinging closurepanel 26, having its upper edge 27 receivable beneath a lower terminallip I9 of the face 20, with a pair of upward-projecting outwardlyoverlying, hinge arms 28 terminally inserted in corresponding slots ofthe lip 19. Along the lower margin of the closure, a pivoted latch plate29 projects horizontally through a slot 30 (FIG. 1) so as to positionits outer, apertured end for insertion of a padlock or the like (notshown). Spaced inward from the closure 26 is a guard panel 31 fastenedto support tabs 32, 33 by screws 34, with its lower margin angularlyoutslanted at 35.

A main circuit breaker B is mounted on a positioning bracket 36 so thatits switch 37 will be accessible to a person upon the closure panel 26being raised, the circuit breaker being electrically connected to a rowof plug receptacles 38 which are mounted on an insulating block 39 andconnected to a ground terminal 40. The

receptacles 38 are arranged to be connected to such lights, etc.) in theestablishment which is being serviced. It will be understood that suchauxilliary elements as sub-circuit breakers and the like will also beinstalled in the box as required by the nature of the units beingcarried, the load requirements, etc.

The upper end of the circuit breaker B, by cables 42, 43, is connectedto a pair of terminal lugs 44, 45 which together with an upper pair ofterminal lugs 46, 47 are mounted on insulating supports 49, 51, both ofwhich are supported on a mounting bracket 48. The mounts 49, 51 arelocated generally central to the upper half of the housing 10, and arepositioned relative to the meter aperture 21 so that they support fourthrust socket jaws 50, thus aligned to receive corresponding bayonet orprong terminals 52 projecting from the rear of the electric meter M. Itwill be apparent that a supply conduit from a municipal power source orthe like, is intended to be accommodated by the terminal lugs 46, 47.

The top wall 16 of the box is provided with a pair of removable hubs 54,56, mounted upstanding from corresponding apertures 55, 57, througheither of which a power supply conduit may be brought in, usually thecentral aperture 57 being employed for the supply conduit when it istaken in from overhead. In addition, there is a knock-out area 59,defined by an annular line of weakness in the back wall 12, throughwhich (alternately) such an underground power supply conduit can beinserted through a lateral opening 58 in an upright, hollow or tubularpost 62 on which the box 10 is secured after the underground cable isled up through its open center 60. Such a post is provided with aremovable cap 61, and an upper bolt 63 and lower encircling band 64 forfastening the outlet box. When the top wall apertures 55, 57 are notused at a particular installation, their respective hubs 54, 56 simplyare not put in place, and the openings are sealed or closed by coverplates (not shown).

The bottom wall 15 is also formed with two knockout" apertures 65, 66,spaced apart on opposite sides of the center post 62. Within theenclosure, upstanding from the back surface 12 and spaced inward fromthe respective side walls l3, 14 so as to form generally vertical openface channels (a and b) extending partway along the length of each sidewall starting from diagonally opposite end-corners, are a pair ofgenerally upstanding walls or baffles 67, 68, each of which starts at anend wall l5, 16 so as to separate a pair of apertures (55,57 and 65,66)and terminates adjacent a pair of terminal lugs 44,45 or 46, 47. Intheir simplest form, such partition baffles may be formed by angle iron,to which is imparted an intermediate bend as required by the spacialrequirements of the enclosure.

Accordingly it will be seen that actually two passage:

ways are provided by each baffle, that is, lengthwise along its oppositesides; and each pair of possible passages is associated with a pair ofapertures (which are located in opposite ends of the box so as to havethe baffles originate adjacent diagonally opposite corners). The fourpassages thus produced can be employed to carry any combination ofincoming and outgoing conduits to or from the central attachment area(which is overlaid by the meter). Or if the supply conduit is introducedby the rear-face aperture 59, any or all of the four passages andcorresponding apertures can carry outgoing lines;

Thus, a supply line can be brought in underground and some or all of theservice lines carried out the same way. Or a supply line can be broughtin from overhead and part or all of the services lines taken outoverhead. In this connection it will be realized that while the primarysafety requirement is for the isolation of incoming and outgoing lines,it may also be desirable to segregate from other outgoing lines, aparticular outgoing line which carries an especially heavy load.Likewise, as in a mobile home park, it may be desirable or required tohave all lines underground including service lines to each mobile home;but at the same time, one may wish to take a direct line overhead tooutdoor lighting fixtures. The advantage of the present power outlet boxis that it is immediately adaptable to a large variety of spotrequirements without any substantial alteration of the structure of thebox.

For simplicity of claim terminology, the top and bottom of the box (asreferred to above when illustrated in a vertical upstanding position)are also considered side walls". The term aperture means refers to thefour (potential) openings 55, 57, 65, 66 whether or not any or all maybe temporarily closed by a cover plate or knock-out disk.

I claim:

I. An electric power outlet box, comprising walls defining an enclosureincluding a base surface and at least two side-walls projectinggenerally upright therefrom,

each of which side-walls are formed with a pair of aperture meansproviding passage to the interior of said enclosure for an electricconduit, said enclosure having mounted therein circuit-forming elementsincluding a circuit breaker and means for attaching an electric supplyconduit which may be carried in through any one of said aperture means,terminal means for connection of outlet conduits which may be carriedout through any one of said aperture means,

meter connection means for detachably coupling an electric meter inposition to measure current flowing in said outlet conduits,

and baffle means comprising a pair of channelforming members upstandingfrom said base surface, each member extending inward from a sidewallintermediate a pair of said aperture means to form adjacent open facechannels terminating adjacent said attaching means, whereby a supplyconduit and an outlet conduit carried through said adjacent aperturemeans may be physically separated within said enclosure by location inrespective channels on opposite sides of said member and any and all ofsaid conduits may be brought through said respective apertures fromeither underground or overhpad positions external thereto.

2. The electric power outlet box of claim 1 wherein said two side-wallsform opposite sides of a vertically disposable enclosure, with saidchannel-forming members each spaced laterally inward from a respectiveupright wall of said enclosure.

3. The electric power outlet box of claim 2 which is additionallycharacterized by aperture means in said base surface adapted to receivea supply conduit for connection to said attaching means.

4. The electric power outlet box of claim 3 which is mounted on a hollowpost which is traversed lengthwise by an underground supply conduitwhich is then carried through the aperture means of said base surfaceand secured to said attaching means within the enclosure.

5. An electric power outlet box comprising a generally rectangularenclosure formed by a back wall, pe-

ripheral walls upstanding therefrom and a front closure, said enclosurehaving a central attachment area therein containing means for attachmentto meter and circuit breaker units, the interior of said enclosure beingcharacterized by a pair of baffle means upstanding from said back walland extending inward to adjacent said central attachment area fromadjacent diagonally opposite corners of the enclosure, forming openfacechannels along opposite sides thereof, and a pair of aperture meansformed in said enclosure walls adjacent the outer end of each of saidbaffle means whereby separate access may be provided to each of saidchannels for respective electric conduits from outside said box.

1. An electric power outlet box, comprising walls defining an enclosure including a base surface and at least two side-walls projecting generally upright therefrom, each of which side-walls are formed with a pair of aperture means providing passage to the interior of said enclosure For an electric conduit, said enclosure having mounted therein circuit-forming elements including a circuit breaker and means for attaching an electric supply conduit which may be carried in through any one of said aperture means, terminal means for connection of outlet conduits which may be carried out through any one of said aperture means, meter connection means for detachably coupling an electric meter in position to measure current flowing in said outlet conduits, and baffle means comprising a pair of channel-forming members upstanding from said base surface, each member extending inward from a side-wall intermediate a pair of said aperture means to form adjacent open-face channels terminating adjacent said attaching means, whereby a supply conduit and an outlet conduit carried through said adjacent aperture means may be physically separated within said enclosure by location in respective channels on opposite sides of said member and any and all of said conduits may be brought through said respective apertures from either underground or overhpad positions external thereto.
 2. The electric power outlet box of claim 1 wherein said two side-walls form opposite sides of a vertically disposable enclosure, with said channel-forming members each spaced laterally inward from a respective upright wall of said enclosure.
 3. The electric power outlet box of claim 2 which is additionally characterized by aperture means in said base surface adapted to receive a supply conduit for connection to said attaching means.
 4. The electric power outlet box of claim 3 which is mounted on a hollow post which is traversed lengthwise by an underground supply conduit which is then carried through the aperture means of said base surface and secured to said attaching means within the enclosure.
 5. An electric power outlet box comprising a generally rectangular enclosure formed by a back wall, peripheral walls upstanding therefrom and a front closure, said enclosure having a central attachment area therein containing means for attachment to meter and circuit breaker units, the interior of said enclosure being characterized by a pair of baffle means upstanding from said back wall and extending inward to adjacent said central attachment area from adjacent diagonally opposite corners of the enclosure, forming open-face channels along opposite sides thereof, and a pair of aperture means formed in said enclosure walls adjacent the outer end of each of said baffle means whereby separate access may be provided to each of said channels for respective electric conduits from outside said box. 